< Nahum 2 >

1 One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!
Yule ambaye atakuharibu vipande vipande anakuja dhidi yako. Linda kuta za mji, linda barabara, jitieni nguvu ninyi wenyewe, yakusanyeni majeshi yenu.
2 For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and ruined the branches of their vine.
Maana Yehova anarejesha fahari ya Yakobo, kama fahari ya Israeli, ingawa wateka nyara waliwaharibu na kuharibu matawi ya zabibu zao.
3 The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished.
Ngao za mashujaa wake ni nyekundu, na watu hodari wamevaa nguo nyekundu; magari ya vita yameandaliwa yanang'ara kwenye vyuma vyake wakati wa mchana, na mikuki ya mivinje inarushwa hewani.
4 The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.
Magari ya vita yapo kasi kwenye mitaa; yanakimbia mbele na nyuma katika mitaa. Yapo kama kurunzi, na yanakimbia kama radi.
5 He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place.
Yule ambaye atakuvunja vipande vipande anawaita maafisa wake; wanajikwaa kila mmoja kwa mwingine katika kutembea kwao; wanaharakisha kuushambulia ukuta wa mji. Ngao kubwa imetayarishwa kujikinga na hawa washambuliaji.
6 The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.
Malango kwenye mito yamelazishwa kufunguka, na jumba la mfalme linaanguka kwenye uharibifu.
7 It is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away; her maidservants moan like doves, and beat upon their breasts.
Husabu amevuliwa mavazi yake na amachukuliwa; watumishi wake wa kike wanaomboleza kama njiwa, wanavipiga vifua vyao.
8 Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
Ninawi ni kama bwawa la maji linalovuja, watu wake kwa pamoja wanakimbia kama maji yanayotiririka. Wengine wanasema, “Simama, simama,” lakini hakuna anayegeuka nyuma.
9 “Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.
Chukua nyara ya fedha, kuchua nyara ya dhahabu, maana hakuna mwisho wake, kwa fahari ya vitu vyote vizuri vya Ninawi.
10 She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!
Ninawi ipo tupu na imeharibiwa. Moyo wa kila mtu unayeyuka, magoti ya kila mmoja yanagongana pamoja, na uchungu upo kwa kila mmoja; sura zao wote zimepauka.
11 Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away?
Sasa liko wapi pango la simba, sehemu ambapo simba wadogo hula chakula, sehemu ambapo simba dume na simba jike walitembea, pamoja wana-simba, ambapo hawakuogopa kitu chochote?
12 The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.
Simba alirarua mawindo yake vipande vipande kwa ajili ya watoto wake; aliwanyonga mawindo wake kwa ajili ya wake zake, na kulijaza pango lake mawindo, makao yake kwa mizoga iliyoraruliwa.
13 “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will send your chariots up in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”
“Tazama, mimi nipo kinyume na wewe- hili ni neno la Yehova wa majeshi. Nitayachoma magari yenu ya vita katika moshi, na upanga utateketeza simba wenu vijana. Nitazuia nyara zenu kutoka kwenye nchi yangu, na sauti za wajumbe wenu hazitasikika tena.”

< Nahum 2 >